Green Smoothies With Rapini

Have you ever heard rapini? If not, perhaps you have heard it referred to by its other name…broccoli rabe. Rapini is not on most people’s radars when it comes to green smoothies, but I guarantee you will want to give this leafy green vegetable a try. The flavor of rapini is quite similar to that of Romaine lettuce, and its flavor can easily be masked by sweet fruit if you choose too.

The Health Benefits of Rapini

Like most other dark, leafy green vegetables, rapini will provide your body with an excellent source of Vitamin A. For example, 2 cups of rapini will provide you with 70% of your RDA for Vitamin A. It is also an excellent source of Vitamin K, providing 149% of your RDA. Rapini also contains small amounts of all of the B Vitamins and Vitamin E.

In terms of minerals, rapini also has a lot to offer. For example, two cups of rapini will offer you an ideal source of calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorous, and zinc.

How to Use Rapini In Green Smoothies

When it comes to using rapini in green smoothies, it is best paired with citrus type fruits or pineapple. When you are adding this ingredient to your green smoothies, make sure to remove the stems and use the green buds, which will resemble small heads of broccoli. If you are new to green smoothies, try adding just one cup of rapini to your smoothies and see how you like it first. If you do like it, then you can start adding two cups to your green smoothies to get that extra dose of calcium and iron.

Green Smoothies With Rapini

This recipe for green smoothies with rapini is one of my personal favorites. To make this green smoothie, you will need to gather the following ingredients:

1 cup of chopped strawberries

1 large pear, cored

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup raw rapini, chopped

4 ounces of filtered water

Each of these ingredients should be added to your blender one at a time and blended together until smooth. This green smoothie recipe will provide you with your RDA for Vitamin C. Now, it is time to enjoy!